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Anyone thinking about buying a home these days knows it’s a very robust and competitive real estate market. In Tampa Bay, single-family home sales in particular are booming as people from all over the United States move to Pasco County to pursue their dream home in a less-crowded region that boasts great weather and healthier lifestyles. Many new homebuyers are selecting ICI Homes as their ...

When the owners of Molly’s Hatchet axe throwing venue in Zephyrhills tell folks they are a family destination, they often get questioning looks. “When people think of axe throwing, they assume our customers are young, athletic adults who also want a bar scene,” explains Shaun Sikat, an owner of Molly’s Hatchet. “But, we’re everything but that. We have created a fun place to go for ...

Since 2003, IERNA’s Heating, Cooling & Plumbing has generated hundreds of positive reviews and thousands of satisfied customers. In a highly competitive industry, the Lutz-based company has established itself at the forefront of HVAC and plumbing in the Tampa Bay area. For a company of fewer than 100 employees, what is the secret to IERNA’s success? “Employee engagement,” says Charlene Ierna, owner and president of ...

CONGRATULATIONS to Nathanael Northey, a senior at Cypress Creek High School, for being applauded by Avalon Park Wesley Chapel. Northey has been involved in student government since his freshman year and served as secretary before being elected senior class president, which he describes as an incredible opportunity. “Whether it’s fundraising at a local restaurant, or selling new senior shirts, it’s a great feeling knowing that ...

Ronnie Ierna has been racing go-karts since he was a young boy. After many years of hard work and dedication, today Ronnie is one of the top competitors in Florida and recently was recognized for his outstanding performance at The New Year Shootout Race at the Florida Dirt Motor Speedway on State Road 52. “Ronnie has been focusing on winning this race for quite some ...

CONGRATULATIONS to Norah Catlin, for being applauded by Avalon Park Wesley Chapel. Catlin, a senior at Wiregrass Ranch High School, picked up the sport of golf at the young age of 4, and has racked up quite the impressive resume of achievements since then. She has been named the Greater Tampa Junior Golf Association’s player of the year, has won countless junior tournaments, qualified for ...

I think 2020 will be a game-changer and COVID-19 will be remembered as a turning point that has served as an engine of innovation. Under lockdown, e-commerce as a share of American retail sales increased as much in eight weeks as it had in the previous five years. As people stayed home, almost overnight businesses began to run from spare rooms and kitchen tables, an ...

Do you love art and also love your community? Do you live in Wesley Chapel, Land O’ Lakes, San Antonio, Zephyrhills or Dade City? Then we have an opportunity for you to make a significant contribution to your community, and influence art appreciation and education in east Pasco County. Avalon Park Wesley Chapel is spearheading a new East Pasco Artists Committee to support arts and ...

Tampa Surgical Arts offers cosmetic treatments that give patients confidence and makes them look years younger. Two of the practice’s most popular procedures are the Brazilian Butt Lift, and facelifts for the lower neck and face. “I love being able to sculpt people’s bodies and help them achieve the curves they always wanted to have, or get rid of stubborn fat,” says medical director Dr ...

As we look back at 2020 and prepare for a new year, this is the perfect time to regroup and seize opportunities for a fresh start, and take charge of your health and fitness. As you write your story and start a new chapter in your life, look ahead so you can have a better story in the end. Think about the lessons learned this ...

If you dream of building a new home in Pasco County’s in-demand State Road 54 corridor, look no further than the final phase of Asturia in Odessa. ICI Homes — one of Florida’s best-known and prestigious builders — has been chosen as the exclusive builder in Asturia’s final phase, with 23 over-sized homesites in this exclusive community located just minutes from the Suncoast Parkway. "We ...

Yearly influenza vaccinations are extremely important because it builds the body’s immune system to respond and fight off viral infection. And getting a flu shot this year takes on added importance because flu and new coronavirus symptoms are nearly identical. “I recommend yearly vaccinations, but if a person hasn’t had one in a while, this year is the year to do it,” said Steve Lee, ...

Collecting Bikes for Kids Kia of Wesley Chapel is teaming up with the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA to collect bikes for students at Sulphur Springs K-8 Community School. “We’re so excited to partner with the YMCA on this because they have a fantastic grasp on what the local community needs,” says Emily Brun, community coordinator at Kia of Wesley Chapel. Sulphur Springs is a Tampa ...

If you don’t make time for your wellness, you will be forced to make time for your illness. Life was good until you ended up in the hospital from an unexpected illness — perhaps from pneumonia, a urinary tract infection, an unexpected surgery, a scheduled surgery or even COVID-19. After your hospital stay, you thought you would be well enough to manage the rest of ...

This past spring, Dade City resident Jennifer Mulligan found herself at a crossroads like a lot of people because of the coronavirus pandemic. “As terrible as the virus is, there was also a silver lining, because it allowed me to step back, reflect and set new goals for myself,” said Mulligan. Although not yet 40 years old, Mulligan had a bucket list of things she ...

Adults age 55-plus are discovering Club Wildwood in Hudson as an ideal community to call home because of its beautiful manufactured homes, first-class amenities (including an 85,000-gallon pool with relaxing waterfall), and an enviable location just minutes from the beaches on the Gulf of Mexico. At 478 homes, Club Wildwood is the largest retirement community in north Pasco County.  With so many residents, there is ...

Wacinque A.K. BeMende has a vision he wants to share with you — that there is an innovative way to stop the cycle of poverty — and he’s asking for your help to spread the word. He is on a mission to help the 40% of Americans who do not have a savings or checking account, people often called the “unbanked,” to open accounts at ...

“Any man can be a father. It takes someone special to be a dad.” – Proverb With Father’s Day just around the corner, The Laker/Lutz News wants to celebrate all the amazing dads out there by giving THREE dads the ultimate Father’s Day gift! Here’s how to enter: Submit a favorite photo of your dad to , or post your photo to Facebook with the ...

One of the few positive things about the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) crisis is that most of us have more time on our hands at home and on the job. Having this additional time provides an opportunity to reflect on what is most important to us, and then make changes that will improve our lives personally and professionally. It has allowed me to step back and ...

As a result of the COVID-19 crisis and Stay-At-Home Order, caregivers are feeling more overwhelmed and sequestered than ever. The important thing to know is that you’re not alone, and there are essential resources available to help. The new Caregiver Support Services program at Gulfside Hospice is currently helping those who are caring for their hospice patients, with the goal of empathetically interacting with them ...

For the last few weeks, we have had to make major lifestyle changes that were completely unexpected, but we will get through these tough times. Simply taking the proper precautions that have been recommended by the Center for Disease Control can help protect not only you, but also those around you from contracting COVID-19. Social distancing, washing your hands regularly and using hand sanitizer and ...

The Avalon Park Group has overwhelming support and backing from the Pasco County Commission to create a brand new town center for the Wesley Chapel community. Downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel is being planned as a mixed-use development on 215 acres located north of State Road 54, about three miles east of I-75. The plan includes four freestanding office buildings that will have a mix ...

ICI Homes, Florida’s premier family owned builder, has been so pleased with its success in Asturia in Odessa, and Bexley in Land O’ Lakes, that it has expanded its Pasco footprint with a new community in Wesley Chapel called Persimmon Park. Located in the area’s most prestigious neighborhood — the master-planned community of Wiregrass Ranch —  Persimmon Park is Wesley Chapel’s newest new home community ...

It’s a new year, and the perfect time to set goals that you have wanted to achieve for years! Health goals are always a priority, including orthodontic care, which can straighten your teeth, correct problems with your bite and give you the smile you’ve always wished for. “For many people, the only thing stopping them from scheduling an appointment with an orthodontist is concern about ...

Avalon Park Wesley Chapel is a community of over 1,500 residents that has attracted people from around the world, many with unique artistic gifts who enjoy sharing their talents with their neighbors. Richard Terrill is such a resident. He is an accomplished contemporary painter, whose work was exhibited and sold in the museum shop at the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland. Terrill’s paintings ...

Unique Floor Plans Offered By Four Premier Builders The holiday season is a wonderful time to dream about your next home, and Asturia invites you to visit its model homes by some of America’s top builders, in Odessa. The community’s beautifully furnished model homes are open for tour daily at this master-planned community, located off of State Road 54, just west of the Suncoast Parkway ...

Hospice is the bridge that helps terminally ill patients and their families navigate the health care system in the final stages of life, while also providing emotional and social services support for the entire family. In Pasco County, Gulfside Healthcare Services has been providing hospice services for more than 30 years, and helps over 1,000 families every year care for their loved ones, and provides ...

Fusing World-Class Ice-Skating with Breathtaking Acrobatics Cirque du Soleil on Ice is returning to Tampa with a new creation that will spin its audience into the vibrant world of Cirque du Soleil AXEL, with seven performances only, at Amalie Arena, opening Oct. 31. This unique show highlights world-class acrobatic skating performances set in fantastical universes, combined with full-spectrum visual effects and awesome live music, seamlessly integrating popular ...

Carmen Livingstone recently moved to her new townhome at Lakeview at Citrus Park and could not be happier with the quality of her new home, and the outstanding service she received from Mattamy’s staff. “Everyone was so helpful, and just wonderful to work with,” said Livingstone, who downsized from a 4,000-square-foot home in a nearby community. “I love that everything is brand new, and that ...

When families are looking for a new place to call home, they have several master-planned communities to choose from in Pasco County. But, there’s none quite like Avalon Park West in Wesley Chapel. “We are not just developers— we are building a brand new town,” said Stephanie Lerret, senior vice president of marketing and community relations for the Avalon Park Group. “We’re so much more ...

ICI Homes is celebrating the grand opening of its new model home in Asturia this weekend, June  29 and 30. In addition to enjoying a guided tour and light refreshments, visitors can enter a $500 gift card giveaway being sponsored by Caliber Home Loans. “Our new model, the Costa Mesa, is one of our most popular floor plans, and this model is absolutely stunning,” said ...

Mattamy Homes’ two new townhome communities in Lutz and Citrus Park are selling fast because buyers love the fantastic assortment of close-by things to do, from recreational outings to fabulous shopping to an epicurean array of restaurants. “Our buyers at Avea Pointe in Lutz and Lakeview at Citrus Park are active, engaged families who love being close to so many things to do,” said Kathleen ...

Talk about having a good week. Last Wednesday, after months of organizational work, Gulfside Home Health accepted its first patient. And on Thursday, it celebrated the grand opening of its new Land O’ Lakes office with a chamber of commerce ribbon cutting. “It’s exciting to be growing and offering new services to our community,” said Linda Ward, president and chief executive officer of the agency ...

Biscayne Homes is a new homebuilder in Tampa Bay whose partners bring 30-plus years of expertise in superior construction practices and innovative design to the Wesley Chapel community of Epperson. “Compared to other homes in our price range, we believe we build a better home with superior construction methods and floor plans never seen before in Tampa Bay,” said David Adler, a partner in the ...

In the two years since Ron Ierna opened his new company, Lakeside Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, he has created a culture of technical expertise and exceptional customer service that has helped hundreds of Tampa Bay families with their air conditioning and plumbing needs. “I’ve been in this business for almost 25 years, both as a technician and owner of two HVAC companies,” said Ierna. “That ...

If you’ve driven by Cypress Creek Town Center lately, you might have noticed the newest addition coming soon: natural supermarket Earth Fare. Terms like “healthy” and “natural” are authentic at Earth Fare. In fact, they’ve been leading the mission to bring healthy food to everyone for over 40 years. It starts with its Food Philosophy, a guide to what is and isn’t allowed on its ...

New models and large homesites Choosing the right home and community are two of the biggest decisions you’ll make when buying a new home. Not only do you want you a community that gives your family plenty of ways to enjoy a wide range of activities and amenities, you’ll also want a builder whose floorplans and home features meet your family’s needs and exceeds your ...

Ashton Woods is in its final sales phase at Asturia, with 85 percent of homesites sold since the community opened two years ago. “We’ve had tremendous success in Asturia, selling over 100 single-family homes in this much-desired community,” said Marketing Manager Kristin Wilson. “We have under 30 homes available for sale, and expect all to be completed by the end of the year.” Because most ...